Remarks by President Bush and President Arroyo in a Photo Opportunity
Malacanang Palace
Manila, Philippines

PRESIDENT ARROYO: I'd like to thank President Bush for coming to the
Philippines on this state visit. It affirms the warm and deep relations
between our two countries. It's another building block in the
revitalized and maturing alliance, rooted in shared histories and
shared values, a common interest in global peace and prosperity, as
well as a real commitment of combating terrorism and advancing
freedom.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the United States for
its support for the Philippines as a non-permanent member of the
Security Council for the term 2004 to 2005, and also for designating
the Philippines as a major non-NATO ally.

I also welcome the Joint Defense Assessment named by our respective
defense agencies. It recognizes that the world today requires a new
perspective on political and economic security. The assessment
recognizes the determination of the Philippines to take greater
responsibility for its own political and economic security, even as it
acknowledges that strong relations with the U.S. will contribute
greatly to peace and prosperity, stability and security, especially
from terrorism. Indeed, we must close ranks and stand firm against
terrorist threats, however grave, however armed, and from whatever
quarter.

When those violence happened in May 2001, the Philippines chose to
fight terrorism, compensating for such modest means of its commands
with unshakable resolve to defeat it once and for all.

I thank President Bush for continued security assistance which
enhances the means to defeat terrorism. I also appreciate the help of
President Bush for increased economic assistance to alleviate poverty
and other socio-economic ills from which terrorism draws its strength.
I take pride in the robust economic ties that bind the Philippines and
the United States.

This past week, in preparation for this visit, we witnessed the
launching in the Philippines of Convergence, the largest customer air
service company in the world, which has hired 3,000 workers in its
first year of operation. We also witnessed the launching of a new
$50-million investment from Ford to launch the Philippines as an export
hub for the world. We received $33 million of new USAID money for
educational assistance in the conflict-affected areas, and we
celebrated the electrification of 1,650 barangays with a contribution
of one million pesos per barangay from Mirant Cal Energy in San Roque
all in preparation for your visit, Mr. President.

I look forward to the rest of my talks with President Bush and
members of his administration. Once again, thank you, Mr. President,
and thanks to Mrs. Bush for making this state visit to the
Philippines.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Madam President, thanks. It's been a -- this is
going to be a great trip, thanks to your wonderful hospitality. I want
to thank you and your government for such wonderful arrangements. And I
want to thank the people of Manila for being so friendly to Laura and
me as we drove through the streets -- there was an outpouring of
enthusiasm and waving that really made us feel great. And I want to
thank your country very much.

I'm here to continue our important discussions. And I want to
remind the people of this country what a great leader you've been when
it comes to fighting terror. You've been strong and stalwart, and
that's what's needed. The terrorists want to frighten people into
inaction. They want to create fear, and therefore, have their way. And
you have -- you've been strong. And I appreciate that very much. We
want to continue to help you.

And I also want to thank you for your vision of understand that
freedom is important, it's a human right, and where there's human
suffering and tyranny, that -- at the same time, terrorist links -- the
free world must work to change conditions, hopefully in peaceful ways,
but sometimes tyranny is so stubborn and ignores the reality, that we
have to take tough decisions. And, Mr. President, you understand that.
And I want to thank you very much for that.

I also want to continue to work on close ties, particularly when it
comes to trade and jobs. We want the people of the Philippines working,
and we want the people of America working. And by having good free
trade and fair trade, we can help both countries.

And finally, I want to thank you very much for working together on
matters of education. We've got a great education initiative, and you
recognize, like I recognize, that education is the best way to fight
poverty. And therefore, education is also a great way to enhance
democracy.

And thank you for your leadership. Thanks for your hospitality. I'm
looking forward to the rest of the day in this beautiful country.

PRESIDENT ARROYO: Thank you.

PRESIDENT BUSH: If it's all right, we've got, obviously, some
anxiety built up in our press corps there -- (laughter.)

Q How serious do you think the terrorism threat is here in the
Philippines? And what specifically can you do to help President Arroyo
deal with it?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, I think the Abu Sayyaf is serious. It's
serious because there are not rules when it comes to a crowd like the
Abu Sayyaf. They kidnap, they kill, they maim. And there's only one
way to deal with them, and that's to find them and to bring them to
justice, which is precisely what the Arroyo government has been doing.

I was briefed before you all came in about the progress made
against the Abu Sayyaf group. Not only is the leadership been slowly
but surely brought to justice, but many members of the Abu Sayyaf have
been brought to justice.

The best thing we can continue to do within our respective
constitutions and/or budgets is to work in a close cooperative way,
starting with intelligence-sharing, and then providing the assets and
the capacity and training to move quickly when a particular target is
found.

The cooperation between the United States and the Philippines is
strong. The success against this particular group is a model for the
region, as far as I'm concerned. And I want to thank the President for
that.

Q Mr. President, you're trying to put security on the agenda at
APEC. Do you think some leaders of this region, some countries are not
doing enough to crack down on terrorism?

PRESIDENT BUSH: No, I think security is on the agenda. What I'm
trying to do, and will do, is to remind people that the war on terror
goes on. See, the easiest thing to do is to think the war on terror is
over with. It's certainly the most comfortable approach. And I just
will remind people that, in view of the United States, that the United
States is still threatened, and our friends are threatened, and
therefore, we must continue to cooperate work.

And the good news is that I don't have to convince Madam President
of that. She understands that as well as anybody in the region.

We'll also, of course, talk about jobs. And I want our people
working. And I know the President wants the people of the Philippines
working. And trade is important, it's an important way to lift lives on
both sides of the Pacific. But it's also important to have free -- fair
trade. In other words, we want the trade to be -- markets to be equally
open. And that's an important conversation that I will have with
members of APEC.

And the other thing, of course, is a chance to renew friendships
and to be able to kind of continue discussions that I had been having
in the past. The President and I, gosh, we've talked a lot. We've met
a lot and we've talked a lot. These meetings are important ways to keep
our friendships going and keep our common interests alive.

Q Mr. President --

PRESIDENT BUSH: Stretch. We call him Stretch. (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT ARROYO: I can see why. (Laughter.)

Q You got a resolution through the U.N. this week, but some of the
countries that opposed the war, going back to last year -- France,
Germany, Russia -- still haven't come forward with any contributions.
Do you think this -- and some members of your administration cautioned
us against assuming there will be any major inflow of contributions,
troops and money, as a result of this. Do you think that's a realistic
outlook on things?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, first, let me thank those countries for their
vote at the U.N. That was a very important vote. And as a matter of
fact, the first thing that the President and I discussed, and the first
thing that Prime Minister Koizumi and I discussed was the vote at the
U.N. It's important for these countries around the world to see the
U.N. act the way the U.N. acted in a 15-0 U.N. Security Council
resolution vote. It was a strong vote.

And as to whether or not they'll participate, time will tell. But I
-- take, for example, Germany. Germany is participating in the
aftermath of certain battles in the war on terror, and that is in
Afghanistan. They're making a very serious, important contribution. And
for that we are very grateful. And there will be other ways for nations
to contribute in the overall war on terror.

And I'm pleased with the progress we are making in Iraq. The
President and I discussed that progress, and it's measurable progress.
For example, we had a goal of a thousand schools to open after the end
of the conflict, and it wasn't a thousand schools that were refurbished
and opened, but it was 1,500 -- 1,500 -- schools. And the electricity
is coming on. The water is more pure. And I can cite a series of
examples where life is improving for the Iraqi citizen.

It is still a dangerous place because there's still haters and
thugs and terrorists who are willing to take innocent life. And the
reason why is, is because they want America to leave. They want to
create the conditions of fear, and therefore, we'll say, we've had
enough. Well, we're not leaving. See, we're not leaving until we
complete the task.

And I am pleased with progress. And one of the President's
ministers was there, talking about education matters and the need for
us to continue to work together to improve the lives of the Iraqi
citizens, and we will. It's in our interest that Iraq be free and
peaceful. It will help change the world.

And I want to thank the President for her strong support. There are
Philippine citizens there today.